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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3017177, member: 19463&quot;]Here we have another example of that old &#039;opinion&#039; situation.&nbsp; Some of us do not mind the textured surfaces left by harsh cleaning or inhospitable burial while others prefer coins with smooth surfaces that have worn enough that persons disliking &#039;used&#039; coins will avoid.&nbsp; Most people want perfect coins but the defects we rank as serious and those we tolerate differ.&nbsp; I prefer a little wear with smooth surfaces as on the Constantius I below.&nbsp; That does not mean I don&#039;t have quite a few &#039;textured&#039; coins as well.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]749343[/ATTACH] </p><p>We also differ on the use of the word &#039;patina&#039;.&nbsp; Many coins are toned a dark color naturally or using Deller&#039;s Darkener but I do not consider that &#039;patina&#039;.&nbsp; I reserve that term for a thicker, usually colored surface that forms on and in the surface of the coin.&nbsp; Patina can be solid, thick and glossy or scattered and incomplete as shown on the Diocletian below.&nbsp; Removing the green from this coin would be a mistake. Removing a patina wrecks the surface and can not be renewed by rubbing on a darkener.&nbsp; Surfaces are a complex subject I do not pretend to understand as well as I should. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]749339[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps we should mention that the OP coin and all the large folles of the tetrachy were issued with a silver wash.&nbsp; Some still have all of it; many retain some with bare base metal or patina filling in around the silvered areas. The Galerius below is an example of partially retained silver.&nbsp; Many of us would prefer a coin with all the silvering gone to this patchy look.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]749342[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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